As we celebrate Youth Month this June 2024, Proudly South African calls on the youth of our nation to take an active role in shaping the future of South Africa by choosing to buy and support locally manufactured goods and services. By supporting indigenous goods and services, the youth can directly contribute to job creation, economic growth, and a brighter future for themselves and those around them.

This year marks 30 years of democracy in South Africa. Over the past three decades, we have made significant strides in building a nation that values freedom, equality, and opportunity. The youth have always been at the forefront of driving change and progress in our country. Today, their role is more crucial than ever.

Proudly SA’s Chief Executive Officer Eustace Mashimbye commented; “We recognize the pivotal role our youth play in shaping South Africa's future. By the youth choosing to buy local, young South Africans can drive economic growth, create jobs, and build a stronger, more inclusive nation. The power to transform our country's economy lies in their hands, and together, we can forge a prosperous future for themselves and local businesses”.

The choices they make as consumers have a profound impact on our economy. When you buy local, you are not just purchasing a product; they are supporting local businesses, sustaining jobs, and ensuring that their future is secure in terms of the economy and availability of opportunities. Each rand spent on a South African product is an investment in the future of our country, ensuring that the next generation inherits a robust and resilient economy.

Proudly South African is dedicated to promoting local products and services. Our mission is to encourage South Africans to take pride in what our country produces. By buying local, you help reduce unemployment rates and empower small and medium-sized enterprises, which are the backbone of our economy”, concluded Mashimbye.

As we look forward to the next 30 years, the future of South Africa lies in your hands as the Youth. Your support for local businesses can drive sustainable economic development, reduce poverty, and build a more inclusive society. Together, we can create a South Africa where opportunities are abundant, and prosperity is shared by all.

This Youth Month, pledge to buy local. Inspire your peers to do the same. Let us honor the legacy of those who fought for our freedom by taking tangible steps toward economic independence. Your actions today will determine the South Africa of tomorrow.

Join us in this movement. Be Proudly South African. Buy local. Create jobs. Build our future.

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Proudly SA

Proudly South African is the country’s official Buy Local campaign seeking to stimulate much-needed job creation and retention in our country through the lobbying for and promotion of local goods, services, and industries.  The organisation lobbies the public and private sectors to increase their levels of local procurement through their supply chain structures and encourages consumers to do so by changing their purchasing habits. Proudly SA is a membership-based organisation, and only companies that have been audited and approved are entitled to carry the logo, which symbolises the adherence of that product or service to required local-content thresholds and quality standards.